“I’m sorry, Johnny.” The man wiped a tear from his eye as he stared at a picture.
The door to his office opened. There stepped in a woman in a lab coat and Omega. “Dr. Ramirez, I am afraid your position with the company has been severed,” said Omega.
Ramirez shot up from his chair. “You… You don’t know the powers you are playing with here! The consequences and ramifications on the world, the people—”
Omega raised a hand and silenced the man. “Do I look like I care? I just want that brat son of yours. You made him first, yes? I want to know his weaknesses. I want to know what makes him tick. And, naturally, I want him dead.”
“Everything I know, the Agency knows,” Ramirez looked to the scientist in the lab coat, and pointed at her, “Dr. Widow has all the necessary files.”
Omega looked to the good doctor and nodded before returning his gaze back to Ramirez. “I see. So, you are expendable then? Very well, let’s do some more… field testing.”
Dr. Ramirez reached into his desk for his handgun. Omega motioned a quick swipe through the air, sending the doctor flying into his bookshelves, sending books and other paraphernalia falling atop him.
“That won’t be necessary…” said Omega.
“Widow… when did you let him take over?” Dr. Ramirez grunted.
Dr. Widow smiled. “My son has big plans.”
“What the hell is this, some sort of childish rivalry?” Ramirez grunted as he got to his feet, catering to his right arm.
“Think of it as a battle of gods… and right now, my boy is proving to be quite capable. Perhaps it was wise to lay with you after all,” said Dr. Widow.
“What—what? You… Are you? No… that cannot be!”
Dr. Widow laughed, “Surprised? I thought you could tell… he does have your eyes after all.” Omega smirked at the remark.
“Johnny will come…” Ramirez grunted as Omega grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him high into the air.
“I am counting on it,” smirked the giant.
* * *
After his brief reprieve against Pestilence, Johnny felt a strange sensation and heard a voice in his mind.
Johnny… I am sorry.
“Mr. Ramirez?” he said aloud.
Johnny, he’s in danger. You have to help him. He holds the key to defeating the Horsemen and Omega. Jerry’s voice chimed in.
“Chico, Red, we have to get to the school right away. Something is happening to Ramirez,” said Johnny.
“That’s pretty far away, lad. I don’t think we would make it in time.”
Johnny smirked. “Forgetting about my new magic trick? Just hold on tight.”
“Is this PETA approved?” asked Chico.
As the group began to fade and travel, “Not sure but we’ll find out,” added Johnny.
* * *
Omega and Dr. Widow escorted Dr. Ramirez to the white van, Johnny, Chico, and Red appeared in front of the vehicle.
“That… was one hell of a trip,” said Red.
“I think I’m still spinning,” added Chico.
Omega took note of Johnny’s presence. “Ah, so the prodigal son makes his appearance.”
“Who are you and what are you doing with Mr. Ramirez?” asked Johnny.
“No ‘hello, brother. It has been awhile.’? I am heartbroken,” Omega gestured a teardrop falling down his cheek, and then grinned.
“Brother? What are you going on about?”
“While your dad, well, our dad was busy bumbling over you to be perfected in becoming the absolute specimen for the Agency, my mother was busy making me become just as strong and just as capable as you. Thus, I was given the name Omega. I am superior to the Alpha and Beta Projects in so many ways.” Omega flexed.
Johnny turned to Dr. Widow. “So you bred a giant meathead to become stronger than me? That’s…that must be pretty detrimental to your science career.”
Widow became angered at the remark. “You little gnat! I will have him squash you and everyone you loved.” She then took in a deep breath and exhaled, regaining a calm composure. “We shall start… with your dear old dad.”
Johnny remained unphased.
“Johnny… I’m sorry,” said Ramirez. “I wanted you to have a better life. I figured though if I could at least make you the strongest and the hope that Mankind needed, maybe then, I could at least go to the grave knowing I was good at something.”
“I knew you were my father. I had a lot of visions and memories. I know you were only doing what you thought best. I know…in another time, another life you would be a good father. So I don’t hold anything against you,” Johnny said reassuringly.
“Too sweet. Really, that’s touching. I almost felt a tug at my heartstrings. Almost,” Omega then laughed, “but you’re making me SICK.”
The giant raised his right massive boot and kicked Dr. Ramirez down to the ground. “I say, It’s time to retire, dear doctor.” The sprawl of absolute glee and sadism stretched from ear to ear on Omega’s face as he brought down his boot again against Doctor Ramirez’s head. Blood, brains, and bone fragments were sent gushing everywhere.
Before his head popped like a balloon, Johnny swore he heard his father say he loved him. Though, right now, all Johnny could hear right now was the angry voices that were swelling within.
“Pop goes the doctor!” Omega joked as he twisted the heel of his boot into the twitching corpse.
“You… monster…” Johnny fought back the rage that was stirring.
Omega grinned sadistically. “That look is priceless. It’s almost as good as when I had that little shit kill your dear, dear friend, Jerry.”
His eyes shot open in shock. He had always suspected that there was more to the story… but now, now he had all he needed.
“YOU… SON OF A BITCH! I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!” Johnny roared.
Chico and Red tried to calm Johnny down, but it was of no use. He was seeing blood… Omega’s blood.
Johnny struck wildly at the giant but was evaded easily.
You’re not going to be able to hit him while you’re so far gone, Johnny. You need to recollect yourself and try when you’re calm.
Laddy, ya’ve got to stop! Ya gonna get killed!
Red and Chico tried again and again… nothing was getting through.
“Yes, that’s it! Show me your moves, Nightwalker. Show me what you’re capable of. Let me see all that you are worth—and then BREAK YOU! Omega casually said as he dodged Johnny’s attacks.
He was weakening fast and he knew it. The rage had won… they had won. Chico and Red were right in that at this moment, Johnny was not strong enough. He needed more time. More power.
Omega, too, had noted this. He rushed in for a solid punch in Johnny’s gut and then uppercutted him—sending him to the ground several feet back. Chico and Red rushed to Johnny’s side.
“C’mon, lad, we’ve got to go!” said Red.
“I know…” said Johnny as he propped himself up, “hold on.”
Chico and Red grabbed a hold of Johnny and as Omega motioned to land a deadly blow, the three vanished from the brutes sight.
“Damn it,” Omega gritted his teeth.
“It’s fine, darling. We’ve proven our point. There’s nothing now that can stop us,” Dr. Widow said as she approached the giant of a man from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his back.
“I have to say, your story was convincing to the doctor and boy. He actually believes that we are brothers, ha! What a fool,” Omega grinned.
Dr. Widow grinned and chuckled silently to herself.
“We should make our next move. We should pay my… adoptive parents a visit,” said Omega as he cracked his knuckles. “We wouldn’t want the family to not know of the bad news after all.”
* * *
Johnny, Chico, and Red all landed and rolled across the ground back at their hideaway.
Johnny began slamming his fist into the ground, making a hole in the concrete.
“I know you’re angry, kid, but you need a clear head. There are Horsemen out there still killing in his name and making a mess of things,” said Red.
“He’s right. We need to deal with them and then handle Omega,” added Chico.
Johnny sat on his knees, closed his eyes and sighed.
He opened them, clarity and reason had been reached. “Let’s make this a group effort. Get Pierre and his gang, alert Rottie and her pack. We need everyone on board.”
Red and Chico both nodded.
“It’s time for the world to strike back, for those who have been wronged to rise up and strike down these tyrannous villains who would otherwise bring mankind to extinction.” Johnny looked down to Chico and Red with a grin, “Can I count on you?”
Robert J. S. T. McCartney 